C 534 3 
the whole collection of the luminous vapour lodged 
in it, was in a continual agitation for above a quarter 
of an hour ; during which time, the whole hemi- 
fphere feemed to be all on a blaze. 
This moft glorious and extraordinary appearance 
was, however, of a very fhort and inconfiderable 
duration ; the extinction of the whole being fo com- 
pletely effected by 8 h 40' P. M. that no remains of 
the phenomenon, in any part of the heavens, could 
then be difcerned. 
But what principally engaged my attention this 
evening, was a luminous arch, or zone, of a very 
beautiful purple colour, fuch as I had never feen 
before ; which prefented itfelf to my view about 
S h 40' P. M. and extended from E.to W. nearly, as I 
apprehended, bifeCting the hemifphere. This began 
to grow faint a little before nine o’clock ; and in lefs 
than ten minutes time, as near as I could guefs, to- 
tally difappeared. 
The light calf by the Aurora Boreales above men- 
tioned was greater than any I had ever obferved to 
attend fuch phenomena before. Nor, indeed, did 
I ever meet with a defcription of any meteors re- 
fembling that mentioned here in every particular. The 
converfion of the flame-colour in the firft ftage of the 
meteor into a deep blood- red, together with its wonder- 
ful expanfion, and the beautiful purple zone, or colour- 
ed arch, which clofed the whole, are Angularities that, 
I believe, never occured before; or, at leaft, fuch as 
have never hitherto met with a proper and adequate 
defcription. Some of thefe phenomena feem, from 
the public papers, to have been feen at London, 
VVindfor, and other places at a confiderable diftance 
froni 
6 
